By WKTV Staff
greer@wktv.org

A 100-plus car pile-up, including dozens of semi-trucks, closed both directions of traffic on Interstate 196 Monday morning between Hudsonville and Zeeland while snow and heavy winds rolled across West Michigan.

UPDATE: Both directions of I-196 re-opened at 6:45 p.m. Thursday

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said the multi-car pile-up on I-196 began approximately at 10:19 a.m. Jan. 19, near 64th Ave. in Zeeland Township. Deputies were dispatched after receiving multiple reports of numerous crashes and slide-offs in the area.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, all injured patients were transported to area hospitals via ambulance. There were 10 total persons injured with non-life threatening injuries and 25 motorists were transported to a reunification point at Hudsonville High School.

Sheriff’s Deputies worked with area ambulance and fire services to treat the wounded and transport them to area hospitals. The Michigan State Police and Zeeland Police Department also assisted deputies on the scene.

The highway was closed in both directions between the Hudsonville exit of 196 (62) and the Zeeland exit of 1-96 (55). Motorists were encouraged to avoid this stretch of 196 and avoid travel completely, unless necessary.

Buses from Hudsonville High School (HHS) and Max Transit were used to assist OCSO with transporting stranded motorists from the scene to Hudsonville High School.